Want to experience the latest in digital content, online storage trends, software and social networking this Spring? Then make Princeton Public Library's Tech Lab a frequent destination in the coming months, as our current series of technology classes continues through June and includes a variety of offerings for everyone from luddites to techies.

New York City is so near and yet can seem so far for those of us who are less than familiar with travelling to and throughout the Big Apple. A day trip to the city last summer with my family had seemed an easy enough idea: we would take the train, catch a few subways, walk a few blocks, and see the sites. What ensued, though, was anything but! I should have known traveling from Princeton to NYC with a dozen people who don't frequent east coast public transportation was destined to be an adventure:

Your input is important to us. The library encourages feedback to help us offer programs that you find valuable, informative and entertaining. With your ideas, we can consider how to expand our programs and services, improve how we do things, and purchase books and other materials that might not have been included in our collection.

Bring in 2014 with a New Year's resolution that you'll still be talking about in the spring, summer and fall. Rather than pressuring yourself to accomplish the most popular resolutions according to USA.gov, why not resolve to visit Princeton Public Library and enhance your tech know-how by attending our technology classes?

Downloading eBooks is like riding a bike. It takes a lot of practice to get going, but once you do, you never look back. Because it can be a tricky process to learn and many people look to the library for assistance (which we encourage!), we offer classes to download eBooks, audiobooks and magazines. In the past, these classes had been challenging to personalize, with two staff members assisting up to ten individuals at a time, each with a different type of mobile device and in need of customized downloading instructions.

Tired of the same old lunchtime routine? Rather than eating at your desk or running errands, treat yourself to a 30-minute concert on Thursdays at 12:30 p.m. at the Princeton University Chapel. The 2013-2014 After Noon Concert series hosts performances on most Thursday afternoons. These concerts are free, open to the public, and are an amazing way to spend the middle of the day.

Coming up with a blog post is a bit like planning a dinner party. A week or so before, I start thinking about the theme, developing and discarding a variety of ideas, always wondering what will have appeal. As with most things, when I am thinking about something else, the solution becomes apparent.

Have you attended any of the library's technology classes? Whether you have yet, or not, this summer is the perfect time to sit in on a session! While it's hot outdoors, enjoy the cool space of our technology center, which is home to 12 state-of-the-art iMacs. During the months of July and August, we're offering 30 classes, so you'll surely find some that you're interested in.

This is a re-posting of my original blog on May 25, 2012. I want to share it again because the letter is so moving, with a message that stands the test of time and bears repeating and rereading. This is a perfect time to celebrate our servicemen and women and to remind ourselves of the values of our military.

Fred Buschhoff, of the 101st Airborne was 19 when he wrote this letter to his nephew, Dan Buschhoff (my father), for his second birthday. Three weeks after writing the letter, Fred Buschhoff was killed in the Battle of the Bulge.